American Flag Bunting 16ga Top Action

[Bruce Day]

This is a 16ga top action G grade hammer Parker with damascus barrels in the American Flag Bunting pattern. This Parker is the only example of this particular damascus pattern known to the Parker collecting community.

It has a curved top lever and lightening grooves in the action frame flats. With SN 59,172, it was made in 1890, or after Parker started making hammerless guns in 1889, and during a period when the market was quickly shifting to the new hammerless guns.


(owned by a friend)

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

YOU'RE KILLING ME BRUCE!!!

[GH-16]

Bruce,

Thank you so much for shareing this with us. You state that this gun is the only Parker known to have this Damascus pattern.

What's the speculation of why only one gun is wearing this type of tubes. Did Parker buy a set of proto-type tubes & then decide to to buy more? Were they salesman samples that they had laying around and decided to use? Could they have been a special order requested by the customer?

What's your take on them? They are beautiful to say the least!!!

[Bruce Day]

A salesman's sample would be my thought. But this is a somewhat late hammer gun also and likely requested by a discerning buyer who wanted something special. We know there were a few salesmen who represented the European barrel makers to the trade, and there were many damascus patterns including chain , rosette, two types of Bernard, many blade counts of croille and several different stars and stripes patterns, of which the American Flag Bunting is a Stars and Stripes pattern. I don't think its unreasonable to suppose that one of these salesmen could have easily supplied a set of tubes for a special gun. I take it you are aware of the Terrill gun, which has the name Terrill recurring in the damascus ribbon the full length of both barrels.

Unanswered is if the barrels are special order, why special order on a G, which was the lowest damascus graded gun. Why not at least a D, which was the usual presentation or special gun.

All this is just speculation.

Drew Hause has made a passion of damascus and perhaps he can add his thoughts.

[Dean Romig]

As with the "Tyrell" barrels, they may have been specially ordered from the supplier in England or Belgium by a high-ranking Parker Bros. official.

[ch]

What a incredible gun!!! Ducks on right sideplate? What's on floorplate.

[Drew Hause]

A not very good image of the "TERRELL" (is this the correct spelling?) Two Iron Crolle barrels courtesy of Bill Jolliff.



The gun is the AAHE 16 ga. on top



This is the "Remington Arms" Two Iron Crolle gun; a c. 1898 likely Presentation Grade 1894. Courtesy of Timothy Sheldon.



Several other examples of letters within the scroll exist, and to my knowledge only the Belgians had the interest or expertise to create these barrels; quite possibly H. Pieper.

This is a Spencer Gun Co. with "American Flag Bunting" or "Washington" pattern courtesy of Ross Berck. Similar patterns have been found on Ithaca Lewis Grade 4, Ithaca Flues 1 1/2 Grade, Remington 1894 C grade (named "Washington N 3. B.P."), and Hollenbeck Gun Co. drilling barrels.



Why the order specified this pattern on this remarkable Parker is only speculation.

Our friend also has a GHE with 4 Iron Turkish and a Washington pattern rib - the only one I have seen

[ed good]

wonderful gun! rare to see such early bright case colors!

[Bruce Day]

A damascus pattern that has never been reported on a Parker is chain damascus. Other manufacturers used it, but probably not Parker, at least none found yet. But we keep looking, and if you know of chain on a Parker, please speak up.

If I could step back to 1910 and had the money, I'd order a new C , 16ga, ask for special engraving, special wood and ask what Parker might obtain in the best Emil Bernard or other special damascus pattern, maybe from Pieper. The question is whether I would make it a hammerless or a top action hammer. But maybe a top action sidelock hammer with curved lever and lightening grooves, or maybe a lifter with all the late improvements, decisions, decisions.

I think chain is gorgeous, see if you don't agree. Here's a couple, not Parkers.

[ch]

I agree! It would be something to watch thoes barrel makers do all they did. The greatest invention of today don't have anything on thoes craftsmen. Simply amazing!